Zhang Zixuan

Unbeknownst to Li Tianming, besides the green-robed youth and the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion before him, a middle-aged couple was perched atop a sturdy ancient tree not far away.

Both the middle-aged couple were clad in luxurious brocade robes, completely immune to the miasma of Huoling Mountain. Their auras were profound, and invisible fields surrounded them. It was evident at a glance that they were top-tier Beast Masters, who had held high positions for many years and possessed the power to control the populace.

"This youth isn't from the Thunder Venerable Mansion, how did he end up in the depths of Huoling Mountain?" the middle-aged man frowned, his gaze cold.

"Probably a local resident gathering herbs on the mountain," the woman replied.

"Since he's not from the Thunder Venerable Mansion, we can just kill him directly and be done with it," the man said, preparing to make a move.

"There's no need. His Companion Beast is very small, and his strength is mediocre. Let 'Xuan' handle him. Xuan will deal with outsiders," the woman said.

Although her son had grown up, time had left no mark on her, making her look no older than twenty. Her voluptuous figure exuded even more charm.

While they were speaking, Li Tianming had also gotten a clear look at the green-robed youth. He hadn't expected to encounter such a stranger in the depths of Huoling Mountain. This youth was clearly not from Lihuo City.

"What's going on lately, it feels like geniuses are everywhere?" he thought, considering that this green-robed youth, if placed in Lihuo City, would at least be on par with Li Zifeng.

He certainly had no reason to antagonize the other party, but the crucial point was that the Pure Spirit Grass he needed was right under the youth's feet. With one step from the youth, two stalks had already fallen, their medicinal properties beginning to dissipate, which pained Li Tianming greatly.

This was the life-saving herb for his mother.

"You're not from the Thunder Venerable Mansion, yet you dare intrude into the depths of Huoling Mountain. Aren't you afraid of death?" The green-robed youth's eyes shot out a cold glint as he looked arrogantly at Li Tianming.

"Thunder Venerable Mansion? Of course, I'm not from the Thunder Venerable Mansion." Li Tianming was taken aback. What did the other party mean by mentioning the Thunder Venerable Mansion right at the start?

He sized up the youth and asked, "What do you mean by that question? Could it be that you are from the Thunder Venerable Mansion, and only people from the Thunder Venerable Mansion are allowed in Huoling Mountain?"

The Thunder Venerable Mansion primarily focused on lightning-element Companion Beasts. This green-robed youth's Companion Beast was of the poison type, making it unlikely he was from the Thunder Venerable Mansion.

"The reason I ask you this is naturally because I am from the Thunder Venerable Mansion. I can't be bothered to talk to you further. I'll give you a piece of advice: our Thunder Venerable Mansion is handling matters in Huoling Mountain. You will get out of Huoling Mountain immediately. If you hesitate for ten breaths, you will be buried here."

The green-robed youth's expression was arrogant and domineering. In this regard, he indeed fit the demeanor of the geniuses from the Thunder Venerable Mansion; they were basically all like this, including Liu Qinyang.

"Leave Huoling Mountain? No problem. I was planning to leave anyway, but I want to pick a few stalks of Pure Spirit Grass before I go. It's for my mother's illness. Please give me some time, brother."

The Pure Spirit Grass, which he had spent so much effort to find, was right under the other party's feet. Even if the other party was from the Thunder Venerable Mansion, Li Tianming did not want to clash with him for the moment, lest the youth destroy the Pure Spirit Grass in anger.

"Pure Spirit Grass?" The green-robed youth lowered his head. Only then did he notice the spiritual essence with red Heavenly Patterns at his feet.

"Yes, I'll pick a few stalks and then I'll be leaving," Li Tianming said.

"Oh." The green-robed youth nodded.

Just as Li Tianming thought he would move aside, he was completely taken by surprise when the youth suddenly lifted his foot and stomped on all the Pure Spirit Grass beneath him. As he stomped, he smiled at Li Tianming and said, "I told you to scram, and you still have so much nonsense to say. You even called me 'brother.' Who do you think you are, trying to be buddies with me?"

Li Tianming actually had a good temper; he generally didn't provoke others unless provoked.

However, the other party could have simply moved his foot away with a mere gesture. He didn't need the Pure Spirit Grass at all, yet he deliberately crushed it in front of him. Such malicious provocation and contempt were unbearable!

What's more, this was Wei Jing's life-saving herb!

Li Tianming had spoken to him with courtesy to obtain it. After all, the green-robed youth was from the Thunder Venerable Mansion. Normally, he wouldn't have shown him any pleasantries.

Now, seeing all the Pure Spirit Grass crushed, and the green-robed youth looking at him triumphantly...

"I'll screw your ancestors!"

Li Tianming cursed. The Bloodfire Thorn had appeared in his right palm at some unknown time. As he clenched his left hand, the Dark Arm, the surging power almost shattered the wrapped white cloth.

"Trash, this beast!" Even more incensed than Li Tianming was Little Yellow Chicken, who had an even more explosive temper. It flew out from above Li Tianming's head.

It was likely that the green-robed youth never expected that someone who should have been trembling after learning his identity would dare to attack him.

"Kill them."

His gaze remained contemptuous as he commanded his Companion Beast to intercept Li Tianming and the others, his eyes full of amusement.

"If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for running into Huoling Mountain at the wrong time. If you had managed to get the Divine Source, wouldn't we have lost out?"

After all, he wasn't sure if obtaining the Divine Source was due to strength or luck. What if Li Tianming's luck exploded?

He didn't speak loudly, so Li Tianming naturally couldn't hear him.

Although the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion was huge, it was incredibly fast. Its pincers and blue venomous tail were like top-tier Beast Soldiers. In combat, it moved like an illusion, swift as lightning, and most importantly, it was highly venomous.

Bang!

When Li Tianming's Dark Arm punched the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion's pincer, judging by the power, the youth and the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion should be at the Seventh Level of Beast Vein Realm. However, due to the Companion Beast being of the poison type, his second brother Li Zifeng would definitely not be a match for this opponent. But the current Li Tianming was not necessarily so!

Furthermore, the green-robed youth hadn't made a move yet, making this two-on-one situation a very good opportunity for Li Tianming.

"Together!"

He and Little Yellow Chicken were in perfect sync, their coordination during combat exceptionally clear.

Blood Soul Kill!

This Extraordinary Beast-grade Battle Art erupted from both Li Tianming and Little Yellow Chicken simultaneously. Li Tianming executed the Martial Art, while Little Yellow Chicken performed the Beast Art, yet they converged towards the same goal.

Blood Soul Kill was a combination of movement and killing techniques, with the movement technique being particularly crucial. In a flash, Li Tianming moved like a blood-red shadow, instantly appearing before the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion with a glint of killing intent!

However, Little Yellow Chicken was even better at executing Blood Soul Kill. Since it could already fly, its movement techniques became even more unpredictable when in flight. Coupled with its small size, it was incredibly elusive.

Moreover, this fellow specifically targeted weak points. The Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion's eyes were its greatest weakness!

The most fatal thing was that the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion didn't take Little Yellow Chicken seriously at all; it only focused on Li Tianming. While Li Tianming was fast, it wasn't slow either. At this critical moment, just as Li Tianming appeared, its massive pincer clamped down directly!

Hit!

The green-robed youth chuckled. Li Tianming's left arm had been caught by the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion, and it was about to be snapped in two.

Snap!

Then came a crisp sound!

The sound was so sharp, the green-robed youth knew it was the sound of Li Tianming's arm bone breaking. But when he clearly saw what had happened, he was completely stunned.

Li Tianming's arm hadn't broken; it was the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion's pincer that had cracked!

This scene was utterly unbelievable!

"You idiot, you have no idea how hard Li Tianming's arm is when he sticks it in his pants!" Little Yellow Chicken laughed.

This arm was Li Tianming's biggest mystery besides his Primordial Chaos Beast Companion Beast. He had tested it himself with swords, spears, sabers, and halberds, and it hadn't budged an inch.

He wasn't even sure what secret power lay dormant within this arm. After all, this was likely the Dark Arm that had pursued Little Yellow Chicken!

As the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion was distracted by Li Tianming's Dark Arm, Li Tianming's Bloodfire Thorn, in his right hand, pierced the scorpion's eye in the next instant. With a splat, green blood splattered out!

Crucially, on the other side, Little Yellow Chicken's sharp beak also plunged into the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion's other eye.

"Congratulations, you've acquired a blind Companion Beast." Little Yellow Chicken flew up, looking triumphantly at the green-robed youth. This finally felt satisfying.

The severely injured Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion was already rolling and screeching on the ground. With such heavy damage, even with potent elixirs, its eyes might never see clearly again.

It wasn't that Li Tianming and his companions were being excessively brutal. On one hand, he genuinely hated the people from the Thunder Venerable Mansion. On the other hand, this green-robed youth was asking for it.

His arrogant demeanor was practically an invitation to be beaten!

"You're losing that leg too." This guy had stomped all over the Pure Spirit Grass. As soon as Li Tianming finished dealing with the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion, he locked onto the green-robed youth and charged forward with Little Yellow Chicken.

"You're dead!" The green-robed youth's eyes turned bloodshot. He immediately entered a state of rage, and several silver needles appeared in his hand.

These silver needles were extraordinary, clearly top-tier Beast Soldiers forged from precious Spirit Ore.

These were likely Heart-piercing Needles.

There was a blue liquid on the needles, which was probably also a potent poison.

Whoosh!

The silver needles shot out instantly, flying towards Li Tianming and Little Yellow Chicken.

Honestly, if he had fought Li Tianming and his companion seriously from the start with his strength, he wouldn't be in such a passive situation now. But it was too late to regret it; showing off always came with a price.

Dodge!

Battle Arts like Blood Soul Kill were very effective against opponents like the green-robed youth. The most advanced movement techniques made it easy to evade their attacks. Once the Heart-piercing Needles were dodged, the green-robed youth was exposed to Li Tianming's offense.

Bang bang bang!

In a flash, Li Tianming and Little Yellow Chicken surrounded the youth. With his left fist and right saber, Li Tianming moved as swiftly as lightning. The Eternal Purgatory Beast Essence in his body erupted, and with Little Yellow Chicken's help, he overwhelmed his opponent, landing a punch directly to the green-robed youth's abdomen, sending him flying.

The youth spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering his own face. As he fell to the ground, he could only tremble and struggle to get up.

"I didn't expect you to have this skill, but you're dead. I'm going to peel the flesh off your body, piece by piece. No matter who you are, you'll die a slow death today!" His eyes were so venomous they looked like they would bleed.

"Damn, you can barely crawl on the ground, and you're still talking big." Li Tianming landed on the ground, looking mockingly at the green-robed youth. Honestly, beating him up was a bit painful, because the Pure Spirit Grass was gone.

"Heh heh." The moment the youth let out a cold laugh, Li Tianming suddenly felt a deadly threat!

"Don't kill him, just tie him up. I'll kill him myself. I'm not looking for Divine Source today; I'm going to torture him all day!" The green-robed youth struggled to stand, his face contorted.

As he spoke, Li Tianming clearly saw a woman appear beside the youth.

The woman's face was ashen. She looked at the green-robed youth with concern, and when she looked at Li Tianming, her eyes were filled with intense killing intent.

It wasn't just her. When Li Tianming looked back, a middle-aged man was by the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion's side, applying medicine to its eyes.

That was likely a top-tier Spirit Medicine, capable of healing the pierced eyes to some extent. Whether they could fully recover, Li Tianming didn't know.

These two elders, looking at Li Tianming, had already condemned him to death.

"Damn." Li Tianming froze, completely taken aback that the other party was circling Huoling Mountain with his parents.

This was poison!

"Now, do you know what fear is?" The green-robed youth grinned sinisterly. He held a short knife with a sharp blade and said to the woman beside him, "Mother, just make him unable to move. I'll handle the rest."

"Growth indeed requires some setbacks. After you vent your anger, you can't be so careless again." The woman affectionately stroked the green-robed youth's head.

"Understood, Mother. I won't be caught off guard in the gutter again." The green-robed youth locked onto Li Tianming. Next, he intended to bleed him dry, inch by inch.

"Dude, don't do this. This is bloody violence, and it doesn't align with our Vermilion Bird Country's values..." Li Tianming said.

This was reality. What if you could defeat the opponent? Their parents were right there, and they could easily kill you.

The woman produced a green iron chain from somewhere. The chain shimmered, and Heavenly Patterns could be seen on it.

This was undoubtedly a supreme Beast Soldier. It would grab Li Tianming like a chicken, making him completely unable to move.

At the same time, the green-robed youth walked towards Li Tianming.

"When night falls, you'll be a pile of shredded meat, and you'll probably see the King of Hell. Tell him that the person who killed you is named 'Zhang Zixuan'."

"Zhang Zixuan? That name is everywhere now, what's the difference from the old Zhang Chunxia?"